MELBOURNE CUP PROSPECTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2372, 17 August 1899, Page 36

MELBOURNE CUP PROSPECTS.

" Milroy " writes: Though a few fairly large wagers are reported to have been recorded over the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup, it is not likely that any were made in the interests of the stables that hold the horses, as at this time of the day the majority of the owners are as much in the dark concerning the real merits of their horses as they were before the weights came out. It is also improbable in these sharp days that any owner would bet on the blind as they used to do, to the great advantage of the ring, in days of old ; therefore until the A. J.O. meeting is through we are not likely to have many, or any, stable commissions on the market, and sportsmen living at a distance ■ from the two capitals should, for their own benefit, restrain themselves, and not endeavour to "beat the market," as in nearly every case the early punter has reason to regret hisprecipitate action before the race is run. War God was backed to win three or four thousands in Sydney ; but, for two reasons, it is unlikely that a penny of it was taken for anybody connected with the Warwick Farm stable. Firstly, it is too early altogether to try a Cup horse, especially one that was so big and lußty as War God was a month ago, and secondly, War God is about the last horse on earth that would show a good trial, for the reasons that he is a lazy goer, and not much good when he has a full head of steam on. War God will run as a five-year-old in the Melbourne Cup, and he carries 4-lb more than he did into fourth place last year. Certainly he is meeting. Cocos, who was third last year, on 201b better terms, but he is only meeting Wait-a-Bit, who wns second, on 81b better terms. If War God is worth backing on his last year's showing, surely Wait-a-Bit is a better investment, as War God had every chance in the race, but it is said Wait-a-Bit would have won were it not for interference. Mr Dakin calculates that Cocos will improve 241b and Wait-a-Bit 121b during the year, and on paper it looks about right as far as regards this particular pair. No doubt if Cocos and Wait-a-Bit meet in the next Cup fit and well, the Abercorn colt will beat the old horse; but there are several very hard nut 3 lower down in the weights for the 'Derby winner to crack, such as Massinissa, Majestic, and Symmetry. Majestic, who is a great, fine, five-year-old son of Trenton, is very handily placed at 8.9, and such a weight will be no trouble at all to the big fellow if he comes fit to the post. His best performsince was to beat Strathroy at 51b over a mile and three furlongs, a distance that suited Strathroy all to pieces. At Sydney Majestic was all wrong, but he has been out lately, and it is said he is looking burly and well. The only doubt about him is his ability to stay the distance. It is evident Mr Dakin classes him as a non-stayer, but handicappers are sometimes wrong in that respect.